A brave young Aston Villa fan has had his life transformed thanks to a DIY SOS-style makeover.

Nine-year-old Jack Oldacres has Netherton syndrome and is one of just 16 known cases in the United Kingdom.

The rare and painful condition is caused by a gene mutation which stops his skin forming and makes it continuously grow and peel.

All of his life, Jack has spent up to three agonising hours every day in a bath trying to exfoliate and treat his skin.

But Jack can now hop in and out in as little as 20 minutes after scores of tradesmen and businesses donated countless hours of their spare time and charity organisations gave thousands of pounds to make life better.

Parents Danny and Julie and sponsors watch as Jack takes a dip in his new bath

The huge project has transformed the family home in Stockingford, including adding a specialist hydrotherapy bath and changing room.

It has changed the whole family’s life according to Jack’s dad Danny, who told the Coventry Telegraph: “It is more than we could have imagined, it has always been about Jack’s bath, then we have been on this journey, well more like an adventure, and now the house is future-proofed for Jack.

“We will never be able to thank people enough. They have transformed our lives forever."

But the real seal of approval comes from football-mad Jack himself, who simply said: “Thanks everyone who have made everything easier for me, mum and my dad.”

Jack's situation was highlighted by popular Villa supporters group All Things Claret and Blue last year, and parents Danny and Julie were overwhelmed with the support they received.

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Danny told Birmingham Live last August: "It is an extremely rare condition, it affects around one in three million.

"Jack is susceptible to infection, has numerous allergies and can't regulate his body temperature.

"We have been fundraising for a specialised bathroom for Jack including a MicroSilk hydrotherapy bath to aid his bathing times and a temperature controlled area to maintain his body tempreture."

Danny and his wife Julie have had to remortgage their home twice and held several fund-raising events to pay for the project – but they have been given so much more, not just in terms of donations and materials.

He believes that in excess of £40,000 has been donated in terms of time and materials by the super squad of local firms and good causes.

“It is incredible what they have done for us.”

The family are big Villa fans and it is Jack's dream to play for the club.

Jack, loves football and is always in his kit, was a mascot for Villa's FA Cup victory over Leicester City in 2015, after Marc Abrighton and Jamie Vardy arranged the treat for him.

Dad Danny has carried on the claret and blue tradition from his own father and granddad and was a macot himself back in 1985.

European Cup winning legends Nigel Spink, Gary Shaw and Andy Blair have attended previous fundraising events the family has staged.

Villa defender Mitch Clark is a friend of the family and attended a charity day for Jack last year.

They also had a special kick-a-bout with former Villa favourite Lee Hendrie after hiring out Villa Park.

"While we were in London at Great Ormond Street hospital we met Ravi who is an admin for the All Things Claret and Blue Facebook group," explained Danny.

"He was taken aback by Jack and vowed to help us by spreading awareness and raising the profile of Jack and his condition through this group, also asking for help towards the bathroom project.

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"We recently hired Villa Park out for a matchday experience and me, my dad and Jack all played in the game along with Lee Hendrie.

"It was a game of a lifetime to have three generations of our family on the pitch together."

The build has been spearheaded by Gaz Marshall and Gary Walker of Walker Marshall, who paid tribute to those who came together to help build the extension.

It also features a new utilities room as Jack's condition means he is sensitive to infection so his clothes and bedding and towels need washing at least twice a day.

“We have never done anything like this before,” Gaz Marshall said.

“We were asked by Martin Walker if this was something we would be able to help with, initially it was just going to be about the bath but it turned into a much bigger project.

"We asked all of the traders we use all the time if they were willing to help and they did, it is great because it became a huge community project and we have all been able to give something back.”

Jack with his parents Danny and Julie and the workmen and sponsors who helped transform the bathroom at his Nuneaton home

Yet more kindness came in the shape of a donation by meningitis charity Georgie’s Gift, which paid for the specialist hydrotherapy bath.

Matt Hall, who set up the charity with his wife Paula as a legacy to their little girl Georgie, saw for himself the impact that the new bath is having.

“It was really humbling to see him [Jack] in there [the bath], playing around, having fun and you can just see his skin coming away, there is no need for him to be in there for hours, you can’t believe how long he had to be in there before,” Matt said.

“We set up Georgie’s Gift as a way to help others and, when we heard about this project and realised how important it was for Jack, we decided we wanted to help.